English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Wormleighton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wormleighton

Historical Forms

  • Wilman lehttune 956 BCS946 c.1200
  • Wilmaleahtun c.1015 KCD1312 c.1200
  • Wimerestone, Wimenestone, Wimelestone 1086 DB
  • Wilmelectona t.Hy1 Kenilworth t.Hy2 Pat 1478
  • Wilmelechtona ib.
  • Wilmelecht' t.Hy2 Ch 1314
  • Wilmelect' c.1200 CartMisc
  • Wilmelectonsiche 1208 FF
  • Wilmelacton t.Hy3 Kenilworth
  • Wilmelechtone 1239 FF 1279 Nott
  • Wilmeleghton 1256 FF 1316 FA 1354 Ch
  • Wylmeleyghton 1291 Tax 1314 FF
  • Willme(s)leighton 1294 Abbr
  • Wermelistone 1199 Cur
  • Wirmelacton 1221 FF
  • Wirmelegton, Wirmelechton 1221 Ass
  • Wurmeleghton 1232 ib
  • Wurmelecton 1265 Pat
  • Wormelacton 1293 Ipm
  • Wormleigton 1315 ib
  • Wormeleghton 1316,1497 ib
  • Worme Leighton 1397 IpmR
  • Wormeleghton al. Wilmeleghton 1498 Pat 1499 FF
  • Woormleighton 1627 Sess
  • Wyrmeleton 1272 Ass
  • Welmeleychton 1293 ib
  • Welmeleghton 1315 Pat
  • Welmeleyghton 1338 ADv
  • Wilmhemebroc (1246 FF)

Etymology

'Wilma 's kitchen-garden,' v. leahtun. The name is probably a pet-form of Wilmund . The same man is named in Wilmanforda 956 (early 13th) BCS 946 (in the bounds of Wormleighton, Ladbroke and Radbourne), 998 Crawford viii and Wilmanbroc ib. in the bounds of Ladbroke and Radbourne. Traces of the use of Wilmhæme as the name for the inhabitants of Wormleighton are found in the name Wilmhemebroc (1246 FF) for a brook in the neighbouring parish of Famborough. The brook is now absorbed in the Oxford Canal. Cf. s. n. Napton supra 140–1.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site